wedding lens/first wedding photos

powell7 said:
hi guys,
my wifes just started doing weddings.
she done very well with her kit lens but found it hard in the low light areas.

would this lens be better for this kind of work and has anyone got/used one ??
http://www.parkcameras.com/11327/Sigma-18-50mm-f2-8-4-5-DC-OS-HSM---Sony-fit.html

also can anyone recommend a good website for flash help for me ?
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Oh god, a can of worms. In short, NO, is the answer to the lens. What is your wife doing shooting weddings with a kit lens? One camera? No back-up? Prepare for battle, good sir, for the wedding togs will be after you.
 
Nowhere, but what is the likelihood of someone owning TWO bodies, but only one lens (and the kit lens at that).

I feel sorry for the OP - I can feel the storm brewing...
 
TG. said:
Where did he say one camera and no back up ? :thinking:
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Read the post. Tell me that's a togger with two bodies.

Oh, and I asked the question. See the question marks?
 
If low light is the problem, then you need a fast lens, think 35/1.4 on a crop body or 50/1.4 on a FF. If the body isn't performing well at high ISO, then consider upgrading to something that can shoot cleanish at at least ISO 6400. Flash isn't always the answer and unless used well can look flat.
 
Chris, I think the flash question was separate, mate.

RE wedding lens. Do what Chris suggested and then repeat. Your wife really, REALLY needs backup gear. I've had one camera and two lenses fail on a job AND my assistant have a CF card corrupt on the same day. Imagine that with no back up.
 
powell7 said:
hi guys,
my wifes just started doing weddings.
she done very well with her kit lens but found it hard in the low light areas.

would this lens be better for this kind of work and has anyone got/used one ??
http://www.parkcameras.com/11327/Sigma-18-50mm-f2-8-4-5-DC-OS-HSM---Sony-fit.html

also can anyone recommend a good website for flash help for me ?
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Ingoring the whole "you shouldnt be doing weddings" arguement thats surely going to happen very shortly and just focusing on lenses.

That Sigma won't really help a great deal when it comes to low light people shooting, the appatures are a bit larger but still variable.

Going by reviews and popular opinion the best low cost low light zoom definately seems to be The Tamron 17-50 2.8...

http://www.parkcameras.com/9696/Tamron-SP-AF-17-50mm-f-2-8-XR-Di-II-LD-IF--Sony-Monolta-Fit-.html

Thats a fixed max appature of 2.8 thoughout the range, no image stabalisation but I'd guess that wouldnt really be that helpful for weddings anyway.
 
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Moreorless said:
Ingoring the whole "you shouldnt be doing weddings" arguement thats surely going to happen very shortly and just focusing on lenses.

That Sigma won't really help a great deal when it comes to low light people shooting, the appatures are a bit larger but still variable.

Going by reviews and popular opinion the best low cost low light zoom definately seems to be The Tamron 17-50 2.8...

http://www.parkcameras.com/9696/Tamron-SP-AF-17-50mm-f-2-8-XR-Di-II-LD-IF--Sony-Monolta-Fit-.html

Thats a fixed max appature of 2.8 thoughout the range, no image stabalisation but I'd guess that wouldnt really be that helpful for weddings anyway.
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/The problem with the Tammy is it has dodgy and unreliable autofocus. I'd never feel confident using it for a wedding.
 
If you can't afford L primes, you can get both the Canon 50mm f/1.8 and 35mm f/2 used for under £300 (that's for both!).

I use this pairing and get stunning results (though I don't do weddings!).

Best low light high iq pairing money can buy IMO.

Then maybe add a Tamron 17-50 f/2.8 for the non critical shots in middle of the road lighting conditions and group shots outside, and then a 70-200 f/2.8 Sigma for candids.
 
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odd jim said:
If you can't afford L primes, you can get both the Canon 50mm f/1.8 and 35mm f/2 used for under £300 (that's for both!).

I use this pairing and get stunning results (though I don't do weddings!).

Best low light high iq pairing money can buy IMO.

Then maybe add a Tamron 17-50 f/2.8 for the non critical shots in middle of the road lighting conditions and group shots outside, and then a 70-200 f/2.8 Sigma for candids.
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Think the OP is using a Sony.
 
gad-westy said:
Think the OP is using a Sony.
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Ah. In that case then it might be more expensive...
 
There we go then!
 
she has 2 back ups my @550 and @350,shes using an @580.
the iso tops out at 12800.
she has a 1.8 50mm sony lens,would that be better to use next time ?
i`ll post sum photos up 2night when i get home.

what lens would people recommend to use ?
 
Just a query, does she shoot weddings for clients?
 
she done her sisters last week but yes the plan is to make a living from it.
 
Did she do that with the kit lens? TBH I'm surprised she got away with shooting a wedding with a kit lens.

It's not something a beginner can suddenly jump into. It's very difficult even with the best of equipment!

Edit - not that I'm saying she's a beginner, in the pure sense of the word!
 
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If you plan to make a living from it the you should take on a loan and invest in the proper tools.

I've never heard of a pro wedding tog shoot with Sony gear but I assume there are somewhere.

A basic wedding togs kit would be two full frame cameras, (I think the A900 only goes to ISO1600?) so you need something that is fairly noiseless around the 4000-6400 area

as for lens the standard two lenses togs use is the 24-70mm f2.8 and 70-200mm f2.8

That is the bare minimum, then you can be a clever and get something like a 17-35m f2.8 and that will give you a wider lens and also work as a partial back up if your 24-70 should fail. a 50mm f1.4 and a 85mm f1.4 to use as back up and lowlight situations.

backing up at the longer focal lengths with primes is expensive, and you might just consider buying a second 70-200mm,

how you choose to work with flashguns is a very personal matter and dependant on your style,

Also budget on attending workshops and seminars because no matter how good you are you can always be a bit better!

Hope that helps

Stuart
 
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The23rdman said:
/The problem with the Tammy is it has dodgy and unreliable autofocus. I'd never feel confident using it for a wedding.
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Have a look at the Sigma 18-50mm F2.8 EX DC Macro, it has a great autofocus and has constant F2.8. It has excellent sharpness and provides a great colour rendition. You should be able to find one for less than £250.
 
DaveKing said:
Have a look at the Sigma 18-50mm F2.8 EX DC Macro, it has a great autofocus and has constant F2.8. It has excellent sharpness and provides a great colour rendition. You should be able to find one for less than £250.
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I had one of those too and it was rubbish wide open. not a patch on the Tamron.
 
There is some right codswallop spouted on here sometimes. Your wife's Sony gear will be fine - punters don't care about brands - and she's in the right track looking at expanding her kit range so she has enough to cover her back.

The Tamron is a fine lens that is optically superb with fine AF. Fast primes are a good idea but not essential and certainly not as versatile, especially for shooting in smaller rooms. As for full frame being a must have.... I despair.....

For flash, get something like syl arena's book or one of Joe macnalley's. Also, as already said, go to the strobist website :)
 
specialman said:
There is some right codswallop spouted on here sometimes. Your wife's Sony gear will be fine - punters don't care about brands - and she's in the right track looking at expanding her kit range so she has enough to cover her back.
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i understand about what people say reguarding full frame cameras,but people seem to right sony`s off.
they seem tobe better spec`d than other around the same price :shrug: .

i`ll post some of the photos 2night.

the hotels photographer got funny when she sore my wife take her camera out the bag so we put it away untill she went at 3.
all in all my wife had 25mins outside with the B&G,which had very poor lighting as it was about to rain any min and was under tree cover.
 
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:thumbs:thanks to everyone for your input`s
 
specialman said:
There is some right codswallop spouted on here sometimes. Your wife's Sony gear will be fine - punters don't care about brands - and she's in the right track looking at expanding her kit range so she has enough to cover her back.

The Tamron is a fine lens that is optically superb with fine AF. Fast primes are a good idea but not essential and certainly not as versatile, especially for shooting in smaller rooms. As for full frame being a must have.... I despair.....

For flash, get something like syl arena's book or one of Joe macnalley's. Also, as already said, go to the strobist website :)
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I've no issue with Sony, but I do know that under dodgy lighting and once in a lifetime conditions that Tamron will let you down.
 
Nothing against sony, To be honest haven't looked at there range of cameras in over two years,

I can't remember which country it is, but evedently Sonys out sell Nikon there! :D
 
Most decent photographers can shoot anything with any half decent gear. and make a good job of it.

What rings an alarm bell for me is the need to ask

If you said to me - what is the limitations of my kit, I can tell you, I know the boundaries I hit, what annoys me, and what I want to remedy it

With weddings, you need good quality, reliable all round gear (including lighting) - as you are confronted with a total range of conditions all day long. Once you have this gear, you will soon find out that occasionally, its too dark, too bright, too contrasty or whatever - that's when you get specific kit to fill the gaps
 
heres afew photos she done,please remember she only had around 20mins outside.

no1
0681.jpg


no2
0771.jpg


no3
1581.jpg


no4
2601.jpg
 
Actually, they are very good considering!
 
no5
1211.jpg


no6
1251.jpg


no7
1233.jpg


no8
2241.jpg


no9
3091.jpg


no10
3141.jpg
 
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Those are quite good.

THey look a little soft, but the composition is very well done and congratulations on getting the bride to keep her bouquet down! :)

Stuart
 
she did find they were alittle soft,why would this be ?
she was shooting around f11
 
The23rdman said:
I had one of those too and it was rubbish wide open. not a patch on the Tamron.
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Not mine, super sharp at f2.8, and fast focusing. The only draw back over the tamron is the extra width.
 
powell7 said:
she did find they were alittle soft,why would this be ?
she was shooting around f11
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Why f11? Just a guess here but at f11 the shutter speed MUST have been very low (unless the ISO was high)!! I'll take a guess at camera shake.

This is basic stuff and if that is the issue I would be wary of doing a wedding without that knowledge.

Regards the images I would say they are not bad. The post processing on a couple lets the images down I think though. Would have been better without the poor overdone vignetting

They do look very soft and I was already going to say perhaps camera shake?

Shooting weddings requires fast glass - you'll get away for the most part with a budget body (although once that rain starts beware)

But you need glass with constant max apertures and at the slowest f4 preferably f2.8 and with a fast prime too faster than f2.

Then there's the lighting and reflectors and other kit.... Sure you can do with less if you take the chance but we're talking about one off hugely important events that could cost thousands to recreate if you screw up! Also there's the insurance, tax etc etc etc :) 'm sure you are aware of all that though.

Shooting weddings is not as easy as 20 minutes at a friends wedding and go for it :)

takes a bit of time and effort. It's not just about taking images
 
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If you go towards f2, then you have limited DOF, and you are using a lot of the periphery of the lens. This adds aberrations. Some excellent lens designs minimise this, but the principle is the same

As you go towards F11, you replace aberrations like TCA with diffraction issues

All basic optics

Generally, lenses have a sweet spot, where they are the most sharp, and that wont be at the f2.8 or the f16 ends, but in the middle

You dont need fast glass to shoot a wedding, you only need sharp glass if you haven't got enough light
 
You need a range of lenses that allow you to be able to shoot in a range of situations. In a dark church where you are not permitted to use additional lighting you may have no choice but to use a wide aperture at high ISO.
 
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